Y Gylfinir - The Curlew

Apologies - a very long entry today! 

It’s an early start today as we’re off to the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham. This week-long festival is of huge importance amongst the Welsh speaking community. Held annually during the first week of August, it alternates between North and South Wales and is largely paid for by extensive fund raising by the local host community. 

Msmy people go for the whole week every year, but we visit far less often. This year, a good friend of ours is being admitted into the Gorsedd, and as G has been a member since 1976, he has decided to attend too. Now, this is where everything  gets a bit complicated - and as I overhear a couple of bystanders saying ‘It looks like some weird cult, or something from the Handmaid’s Tale!’  Basically, it’s a Welsh bardic organisation consisting of poets, musicians and those honoured for contributions to Welsh life. There are white robes - the highest honour awarded to winners of the major prizes in the Eisteddfod; blue robes awarded to graduates in Welsh Literature, Music and other subjects; green for those who have passed the Gorsedd examinations. G is a blue Druid, and our friend is being honoured for his huge contribution to music - particularly with children. 

Today there are two of the most important ceremonies of the week - one outside at the Gorsedd Circle (sadly now plastic rather the stone which was becoming too costly), the other in the Pavilion. The weather is perfect - a tad windy which does cause the bards a bit of a problem with their robes - and crowds gather to watch as the Gorsedd processes through the throngs to their places around the circle, accompanied by a harpist. There are banners, elaborate costumes, trumpeters and beautifully dressed flower girls - but to the uninitiated it does look rather strange! 

Once in their places, there are set songs and responses, the presentation of symbolic gifts to the Archdruid - a female, until 2013 it had always been a male role, and a flower dance by local school girls dressed in purple with flower headdresses and posies. The main focus is the admittance of new members, each being ceremoniously given their bardic headdress. Finally, the whole procession makes its way back to their changing rooms. 

G and I then have a chance to wander round the field which has a real festival feel to it - wonderfully dry underfoot unlike the last one I visited which was a quagmire! There’s so much more here now, including a street theatre stage where we watch a fabulous dance performance called ‘Mari Ha!’  - ‘ folkloric exploration of some of Wales’ oldest traditions, bringing together the solstices and equinoxes, the Mari Lwyd and the Cadi Ha in an energetic contemporary dance performance’. Once this is over, it’s time fir a wander around the exhibition of winners work from the art competitions - not everything’s to our taste, but there’s undeniable skill on show! 

Then there’s the afternoon ceremony - in a packed pavillion where I only manage to get a seat by going in an hour before the event. Most of the elements of the morning are repeated, but the whole Gorsedd is sitting on the stage - and it does look spectacular.  A beautifully designed Chair (a new one is commissioned every year) is centre stage awaiting the awarding of the week’s most prestigious  competition and the Chairing of the Bard. 

Welsh poetry is held in huge esteem here - and the competition requires poetry in a set theme in a given form using the complexity of Cynghanedd - hugely skilful. The adjudication of this year’s competition is given from the stage with only pen names mentioned. Then the pen name of the winner is announced - Y Gylfinir (The Curlew). The auditorium is in hushed darkness, and spotlights search the crowd as the winning poet eventually stands up to thunderous applause. He is brought from his place in the audience to the stage by Gorsedd officials and is seated in the winner’s chair. Then there’s a series of tributes to him - also in cynghanedd - including one by his brother (a past winner) which has everyone in tears. It’s all very emotional as the main subject of the poem is his recent diagnosis with bone cancer. The link below takes you to the adjudication and a film which includes a reading of part of Tudor Hallum’s poem. I always feel the incredible sound quality of Welsh poetry means you can grasp its beauty and poignancy even if you don’t understand it.  

https://eisteddfod.wales/node/5308

And as we leave the pavillion, as always there are huge stocks of the winning poem on sale. So typically Welsh - and a day when I feel very proud of my heritage. 

As you can imagine, a great many photos were taken - particularly of the flower  dance and the Mari Ha! So it’s an Eisteddfod set today …..


My main and first four extras feature the flower dancers, then there’s the pavillion stage, G and our friend who’s just been admitted to the Gorsedd, and the presentation of the gifts from the land. Finally there are three collages  - Mari Ha!, my favourite pieces from the art competitions, and some general ones